By Eze Victor, Abakaliki
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over an increased risk of cholera outbreaks in parts of Ebonyi State, particularly in Izzi, Ohaozara and Ebonyi local government areas, citing widespread open defecation, poor sanitation and limited access to safe water.
The warning was issued on Friday by UNICEF’s Chief of Field Services, Ms. Judith Leveille, during a courtesy visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru in his office, new Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
Leveille, who oversees UNICEF’s seven field offices and emergency operations in Nigeria, said the situation posed a serious public health threat, especially to children.
According to her, more than 2.5 million people in Ebonyi State are estimated to still practice open defecation, a condition that significantly increases the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea.
She stressed that the problem is preventable and called for decisive leadership and sustained investment in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.
“Cholera should be a thing of the past,” Leveille said, noting that with coordinated action, Ebonyi could progressively eliminate open defecation, starting ward by ward and local government by local government.
She added that the cost of inaction measured in preventable illness, deaths and health-care spending far outweighs the investment required to improve sanitation.
Beyond sanitation, Leveille commended the Ebonyi State Government for its collaboration with UNICEF in advancing child welfare across key sectors, including health, nutrition, birth registration, immunisation, and data-driven planning.
She described her engagement with the governor, members of the State Executive Council and the legislature as “fruitful and productive,” noting a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children.
Leveille disclosed that over the past two years, UNICEF has transferred more than one million US dollars to various Ebonyi State ministries, departments and agencies to support child-focused interventions.
These in her words, included strengthening routine immunisation through cold-chain support, establishment of an oxygen plant, and support for health facilities, as well as the ongoing Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which is currently being conducted across the state to generate reliable data on child rights and human capital development.
She said the MICS findings were already revealing stagnation and, in some cases, deterioration in key child welfare indicators, underscoring the urgency of renewed action.
“This moment could be historic if it galvanises stronger leadership and accountability to improve the lives of children,” she said.
On civil registration, Leveille highlighted a partnership compact involving the National Population Commission, local governments, the National Identity Management Commission and private technology partners, aimed at ensuring that every child born in Ebonyi is registered and has a legal identity.
She noted that an estimated 600 children are born daily in the state, making birth registration critical for planning education, health and social services, as well as for protecting children from abuse and exploitation.
In the area of nutrition, UNICEF commended the state government for committing ₦150 million to the Child Nutrition Fund, a contribution matched by UNICEF.
She said the fund supports interventions to prevent stunting and malnutrition, including the procurement of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements for children aged six to 23 months.
Leveille warned, however, that timely and effective distribution of these supplements was essential, given their limited shelf life.